Cooling system for internal-combustion engines and method of operating the same



Sept. 27, 1927. 11

W. W. MUIR COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME' Filed Nov. 192 2 SheetsSheet 1 W W Muir In Van for Jaw Attorney p 1927 w. w. MUlR COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Filed Nov. 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W "(Muir Inventor iaw' A ttorIu V Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED s'ra'riazs- PATENT OFFICE.

WELLINGTON W. MUIR, OF LOG KPOBT, NEW YORK.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND METEOD OF OPERATING;

' THE SAME.

Application filed November 20, 1922. Serial No. 802,260.

This invention relates to a cooling system for an internal combustion engine and method of operating the same, and has for.

its object to provide an apparatus and pro cedure which will be comparatively inexpensive to construct, and more eflicient in action than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts constituting the apparatus, and in the novel steps and combinations of steps constituting the process, all as will be more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views v Figure 1 is a side elevational view partially broken away and partially in sect on of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional vlew taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

1 indicates the jacket, 2 the level of llquid in said jacket 3, a restricted vapor space above the level 2, 4 a filling means limiting the level to which liqui into said jacket, 5 a pipe extending below the level of liquid in said jacket, 6 a continuation of said pipe 5 leading to the radiator 7, 8 the bottom or the tank portion of the radiator, 9 a connection from the bottom 8 to the pump 10, 11 the deli ery side of said pump, 12 a delivery pipe connected at the point 11 with said pump, 13 a check valve in said delivery 12, 14., means for delivering liquid from said pipe 12 1nto the top portion of said jacket, and 15 an extension of the pipe 12 having its delivery 16 at or near the bottom of said jacket. Said pipe 5 is provided at its lower end with a thermostatic chamber 17 in which is located athermostat 18 controlling the valve 19. 20 illustrates the inlet manifold from the carburetor, 21 a pipe leading from said manifold to the chamber 22 in which is located the valve 23 preferably provided with the bellows 24 and controlled by the spring 25.

Said pipe 6 is further provided with the port 27 controlled by sald valve 23, and the chamber 22 is provided with the connection 28 with which it communicates with the va or space above the level 2 of the liquid. nly sufiiclent liquid to fill the jacket is employed, so that the radiator bein norma ly empty 1t cannot freeze, an one avoids-the necessity of carrying an extra tank of water. The restricted space 3 contains vapor at'all times, and the thermostat 18 is set to close its valve 19 when a predetermlned temperature of say 150 degrees 1S attained.

The top of the radiator 7 is further pro vided wlth the nipple 25 in which is seated the ball valve 26' controlled by the spring 27, the compression of which is made adustable by any suitable and well known means, not shown, so that air under pressure, may readily escape from the system and automatically be prevented from returning thereto.

The operation of this cooling system is as follows :--Suppose the engine is running on a very light load and therefore consuming a relatively small quantity of fuel. In suchcase, the suction in the manifold 20 is relatively great, so that the valve 23, due to the pressure in chamber 22 will be open. Therefore, the pressure in the pipe 6 and space 3 will be somewhat equalized. Under such conditions, only'steam or vapor will pass through the pipe 6into the radiator 7 to be returned in the form of liquid through the pump 10. But suppose there is a heavy load put on the engine, as by climbing a hill for example. In such case, more fuel is burned and more heat liberated in the combustion chambers. The throttle of the carburetor will now be open, the suction in the manifold 20 will decrease, the valve 23 will close, and the ressure in the space 3 will increase. Sho d the jacket temperature be above the predetermined point of say 150 degrees the valve 19 will remain open and the increased pressure in the space 3 will force liquid past said valve, through the pipe 6 into the radiator 7, and thus will an amount of heat be dissipated from the system, which will be in proportion to the increased load. The pump 10 will continue to circulate liquid back into the jacket as before, so long as the temperature remains above said predetermined point, but the radiator being made of a capacity sufficient to take care of the maximum radiation that will ever be needed, the water be c o d do n considera y e w said point, and therefore the valve 19 will be closed after a suificient circulation to lower the temperature has been had. When said valve 19 closes, the pressure in the space 3 increases not only due to the additional water pumped into the jacket but also to the heat from the combustion chambers which will now rapidly increase the temperature in "the jacket as soon as the circulation of liquid through the radiator ceases.

Accordingly, the jacket temperature will now rapidly rise until the temperature of 150 degrees is reached, whereupon the valve 19 will open and the circulation of liquid through the radiator 7 be started again. Thus will the system carry vapor through the radiator, or liquid throu h the radiator, or a mixture of liqui and vapor through the radiator, according to the load existing from time to time, with the result that the system will maintain a substantially constant predetermined temperature in the jacket and combustion chambers. In other Words, at very heavy loads, liquid alone will pass through the radiator, at very light loads, ,vapor alone will pass through the radiator, and at intermediate points, more or less vapor will pass through the chamber 22 and accompany the liquid that passes through the radiator; but in all cases the temperature of the jacket will remain substantially at the predetermined point for which the valve 19 has been set.

The method involved in this case resides in the ste s of thus controlling the amount of heat dissipated in accordance with the load, and in maintaining the radiator empty when the engine is idle, for only a suflicient.

amount of liquid is employed as will fill the jacket. That is, the temperature of the liquid surrounding the combustion chamber can be increased under light loads and can be decreased under heavy loads through a range of say 125 degrees if desired, while the radiator cannot be frozen. This is due to the limited quantity of liquid in the system and to the fact that the radiator is so large as to permit the. thermostat to operate at a temperature as low as say 125 degrees or lower, and thus deliver fluidinto the jacket at temperatures sufliciently low t9 close the valve 19. Thissystem can beoperated at any desired temperature above or below 212' degrees F. It is not necessary for the liquid to boil in the jacket, but it is convenient to have it do so, under very light loads, when the bypass; valve 23 will be withdrawn by the increased suction in the manifold 20,due, to the closing of the carburetor throttle.

The advantage of delivering liquid through the exits 14 and 16 at the top and bottom of the jacket resides in the fact that it equalizes the temperature of the hquid in the top and lower portions of the jacket and prevents sudden surges of liquid through restricted passages in the jacket which flood the radiator and empty said jacket. This equalization action is of distinct advantage in split heat constructions, where it often happens that the upper portions of the jacket are connected to the lower portions by restricted passages, and should there be in such cases a much hotter temperature in the lower portion of the jacket than at the top, the liquid is liable to rush through the narrow passages, empty the jacket and cause an overheating of the engine. Again, should the temperature become very much greater in the bottom portion of the jacket than: at the top when there are restricted passages present in normal ackets, one is liable to form steam pockets 1n the lower portion of the jacket, around the combustion chambers, and these steam pockets and consequent escape of steam therefrom will prevent the Water from getting down into the lower jacket portions, thus again causing an overheating of the engine.

On the other hand, by deliverin the cold liquid at the two places, 14 an 16, this difference of temperature is avoided. The valve 13 is to prevent the pressure in the s ace 3 from forcing liquid back through t e ump into the radiator.

T is cooling system, it will be seen, circulates its cooling liquid by the pressure.

generated in the restricted space 3, but the returning liquid from the pump to the jacket creates a further pressure in the jacket due to the displacing action which somewhat speeds up the circulation of the liquid from the limited jacket space through the radiator.

Stated in other words, although the speed of the pump,may be constant, yet the temperature in the jacket will be governed by the number of pounds of water which passes through the radiator and this number will in turn depend upon the load and pressure in space 3. Yet the pressure in the jacket can vary or become higher or lower, and

have no effect on the control of the selected temperature to be maintained in the jacket, because the valve 19 will automatically move to control the flow according to the setting of the thermostat.

The space 3 may be very small indeed or even nonex'istent when the engine is idle.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction, of arrangement of parts, and of operation, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the above disclosure except .as ma be required by the claims.

at is claimed is:

'1. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a liquid circuit including a container having a restricted vapor space and a radiator joined to said container and space; a thermostatic valve for controlling the liquid connection to said radiator; and a pressure actuated valve for controlling the vapor connection to said radiator. 1

s 2. ,In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the combination .of a liquid circuit including a container having a restricted vapor space; means to deliver cooled liquid into the top and bottom portions of said container and a radiator joined to said container and space; a thermostatic valve located in said container for cont-rolling the liquid connection to said radiator; and a pressure actuated valve for controlling'the vapor connection to said radiator.

3. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine the combination of a liquid circuit including a jacket having a restricted vapor space and a radiator joined to said jacket and space; a thermostatic valve located below the liquid level in said jacket for controlling the liquid connection to said radiator; and a pressure actuated valve located outside said liquid and connected to the inlet manifold from the carburetor of the engine for controlling the vapor connection to said radiator.

4. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines the combination'of a jacket; a filling means limiting the level of liquid in said jacket and providing a restricted vapor space in the top of the same; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level joining said jacket and radiator; a thermostatic valve located below said liquid level controlling the flow of liquid to said radiator; and valved means to return the liquid from said radiator to said jacket.

5. In a cooling system for internal. combustion engines the combination of a jacket; a filling means limiting the level of liquid in said jacket and providing a restricted vapor space in the top of the same; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level joining said jacket and radiator; a thermostatic valve located below said liquid level control ling the flow of liquid to said radiator; a connection between said restricted space and said pipe; a pressure controlled valve for governing said connection; and means to return to the liquid from said radiator to said jacket. a

6. In a cooling system for internal com-v bustion engines the combination of a jacket; a filling means limiting the level of liquid in said jacket and providing a restricted vapor space in the top of the same; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level joining said jacket and radiator; a thermostatic valve located below said liquid level controlling the flow of liquid t said. radiator;

a chamber; a connection between said restricted space and said chamber; a connection between said chamber and said pipe; apressure controlled valve governing said .last named connection; and means to return the liqjzid from said radiator to said jacket.

In 'a coolin system for internal com-' bust-ion engines t e combination of a jacket; a filling means limitin the level of liquid in said jacket and provi ng a restricted vapor space in the top of the same; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level joining said jacket and radiator; a thermostatic valve located below said liquid level controlling the flow of liquid tosaid radiator; an inlet manifold from the carburetor of the engine; means controlled from said manifold for governing the vapor pressure in said restricted space; and means to return the liquid from said radiator to said jacket. 4

8. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines the combination of a jacket; a filling means limiting the level of liquid in said jacket and providing a restricted vapor space in the top of the same; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level joining said jacket and radiator; a thermostatic valve located below said liquid level controlling the flow of liquid to said radiator; a suction and pressure operated means for governing the pressure in said restricted space; and means to return the liquid from said radiator to said jacket.

9. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines the combination of a jacket; a filling means limiting the liquid level in said jacket and forming a restricted vapor space above said level; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level and joined to said radiator; a thermostatic valve controlling the flow of liquid into said pipe; a pump and valved connections for delivering liquid from said radiator to said jacket; a suction manifold; a connectionbetween said pipe and said vapor space; a valve controlling said last named connection; and means .for operating said valve from said manifold.

10'. In a cooling system for internal com-v bustion engines, the combination of a jacket; a filling means limiting the liquid level in said jacket and forming a restricted vapor space above said level; a radiator; a pipe extending below said liquid level and joined to said radiator; a thermostatic valve controlling the flow of liquid into said pipe; 2. pump and valved connections for delivering liquid from said radiator to the top and bottom of said jacket; a suction manifold; a connection comprising a valve chamber between said pipe and said vapor space; a valve in said chamber controlling said last named connection; and means connected to said chamber for operating said valve from said manifold.

11. The method of controlling the temperature of the jacket fluid for an internal combustion engine while the same is running in a cooling circuit provided .with a heat absorbing section and a heat dissipating section which consists in generating a vapor pressure in said fluid in the heat absorbing section below a predetermined temperature; causing said vapor pressure to circulate said fluid when said predetermined temperature is exceeded; and extracting the surplus heat from the circulating fluid in the heat dissipating section.

12. The process of controlling the temperature of the jacket fluid for an internal combustion engine while the same is running in a cooling circuit provided with a heat absorbing section and a heat dissipating section which consists in generating a vapor pressure above the liquid in said heat absorbing section; controlling said vapor pressure according to the varying loads on the engine; and causing said varying vapor pressures to pass to said heat dissipating section quantities of fluid varying with the loads on the engine and the temperature of the fluid in the heat absorbing section.

13. The process of maintaining substantially constant the temperature of the acket fluid for an internal combustion engine while the same is running in a cooling circuit provided with a heat absorbing section and a heat dissipating section which consists in generating a vapor pressure above the li uid in said heat absorbing section; control ing said vapor pressure according to the varying loads on the engine; causing said var ing vapor pressures to pass to said heat dissipating sectionvfor cooling quantities of fluid varying with the loads on the engine and the temperature of the fluid in the heat absorbing section; and returning the cooled fluid to the heat absorbing section to reduce the temperature thereof.

14. The process of maintaining substantially constant the temperature of the jacket fluid for an internal combustion engine while the same is running in a cooling circuit provided with a heat absorbing section and a heat dissipating section which consists in generating a vapor pressure above the liquid in said heat absorbing section; controlling through the temperature of the fluid in said heat absorbing section and the suction of said engine said vapor pressure according to the varying loads on the engine; and circulating the cooling fluidbetween the heat absorbing section and the heat dissipating section by the action of said varying vapor pressure to alternately heat and cool said fluid to maintain said constant temperature.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

WELLINGTON W. UIR. 

